Three-dimensional processor and method for controlling display of three-dimensional data in the three-dimensional processor

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling display of three-dimensional data in a three-dimensional processor that processes three-dimensional data indicating three-dimensional position coordinates of each point on a surface of an object to be measured, the three-dimensional data being obtained by projecting measurement light onto the object and receiving measurement light reflected from the object. The method includes obtaining reliability data that are an index of reliability of three-dimensional data of said each point, enabling a user to adjust a threshold for defining a range of the reliability, and displaying, on a screen of a display, three-dimensional data corresponding to reliability falling within a range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user with the three-dimensional data displayed distinguishably from different three-dimensional data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling display of three-dimensional data in a three-dimensional processor, the three-dimensional processor processing three-dimensional data indicating three-dimensional position coordinates of each point on a surface of an object to be measured, the three-dimensional data being obtained by projecting measurement light onto the object and receiving measurement light reflected from the object, the method comprising:
 obtaining reliability data that are an index of reliability of three-dimensional data of said each point; 
 enabling a user to adjust a threshold for defining a range of the reliability; and 
 displaying, on a screen of a display, three-dimensional data corresponding to reliability falling within a range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user with the three-dimensional data displayed distinguishably from different three-dimensional data. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein when a plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data obtained as a result of measurement performed on different surfaces of the object is displayed concurrently on an identical screen, with respect to each of the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data, only three-dimensional data corresponding to the reliability falling within the range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user are displayed. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reliability data are signal intensity upon receiving the measurement light reflected from the object. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reliability data are an approximation error occurring when luminance distribution in a line column signal based on a signal upon receiving the measurement light reflected from the object is approximated to a Gaussian function. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reliability data are a slope, with respect to the measurement light, of a surface formed based on the three-dimensional data. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a slider is displayed on the screen, and the slider is operated by the user thereby to adjust the threshold. 
     
     
       7. A three-dimensional processor configured to process three-dimensional data indicating three-dimensional position coordinates of each point on a surface of an object to be measured, the three-dimensional data being obtained by projecting measurement light onto the object and receiving measurement light reflected from the object, the three-dimensional processor comprising:
 a display including a screen for displaying the three-dimensional data; 
 an obtaining portion obtaining reliability data that are an index of reliability of three-dimensional data of said each point; 
 an adjustment portion enabling a user to adjust a threshold for defining a range of the reliability; and 
 a display controller controlling the display to display, on the screen, three-dimensional data corresponding to reliability falling within a range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user with the three-dimensional data displayed distinguishably from different three-dimensional data. 
 
     
     
       8. The three-dimensional processor according to  claim 7 , wherein the obtaining portion obtains, as the reliability data, at least one of signal intensity upon receiving the measurement light reflected from the object, an approximation error occurring when luminance distribution in a line column signal based on a signal upon receiving the measurement light reflected from the object is approximated to a Gaussian function, and a slope, with respect to the measurement light, of a surface formed based on the three-dimensional data. 
     
     
       9. The three-dimensional processor according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the display controller controls the display to display, when a plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data obtained as a result of measurement performed on different surfaces of the object is displayed concurrently on an identical screen, with respect to each of the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data, only three-dimensional data corresponding to the reliability falling within the range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user. 
 
     
     
       10. The three-dimensional processor according to  claim 9 , further comprising a switching portion determining whether the threshold set by the adjustment portion is applied to all of the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data collectively or applied to the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional data individually. 
     
     
       11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for use in a computer that processes three-dimensional data indicating three-dimensional position coordinates of each point on a surface of an object to be measured, the program causing the computer to perform the steps of:
 obtaining reliability data that are an index of reliability of three-dimensional data of said each point; 
 enabling a user to adjust a threshold for defining a range of the reliability; and 
 controlling a display to display, on a screen of the display, three-dimensional data corresponding to reliability falling within a range defined by the threshold adjusted by the user with the three-dimensional data displayed distinguishably from different three-dimensional data.